come off

British  

verb

1. (also preposition) to fall (from), losing one's balance

2. to become detached or be capable of being detached

3. (preposition) to be removed from (a price, tax, etc)

   will anything come off income tax in the budget?

4. (copula) to emerge from or as if from a trial or contest

   he came off the winner

5. informal to take place or happen

6. informal to have the intended effect; succeed

   his jokes did not come off

7. slang to have an orgasm

8. informal stop trying to fool me!

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come off Idioms  

1. Happen, occur, as in The trip came off on schedule . [Early 1800s]

2. Acquit oneself, reach the end. This usage always includes a modifier, as in Whenever challenged he comes off badly , or This model is doomed to come off second-best . [Mid-1600s]

3. Succeed, as in Our dinner party really came off . [Mid-1800s]

4. See come off it .

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Example Sentences

With oil prices still elevated, albeit off their recent $110- to $115-a-barrel highs, she said risks related to the conflict “are not gone, but we’ve come off max fears.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

That means a lot of 2023 EVs are about to come off lease, and more supply could push prices down in the coming months.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

As they chatted on Discord, a platform favored by videogamers, Brundage was eager to get more information, but he didn’t want to come off as too serious and shut down the conversation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

At the moment it feels like they have got players who can come off the bench and impact games if they need it.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Arthur’s father is better, and wants the marriage to come off soon.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Related Words

• go off
• go over
• pan out